Italian Fruits

Primitivo is an Italian grape variety with quite interesting origins. Research conducted in 1994 proved that the grape is identical to Californian Zinfandel, while it was later discovered that both grapes originated from an old and obscur... READ MORE

Sangiovese is a red grape variety indigenous to Italy that is predominantly grown in Tuscany, but also in other central and southern regions, from Romagna down to Lazio, Campania, and Sicily. It is best known as the main grape used in Chi... READ MORE

Barbera is the most common grape in Piedmont and the third most-planted grape in the country. It is used in varietals and blends. Nowadays, it is considered to have great potential to produce excellent quality wines, although it was once ... READ MORE

Nebbiolo is the highly-praised Italian grape that is mostly cultivated and gives the best results in its native Piedmont. Wines made with this red-skinned grape tend to be powerful, age-worthy, and high in tannins as well as acidity. Dist... READ MORE

Mostly cultivated in Campania, Fiano is an old Italian variety that has seen a significant revival since the 1980s. This low-yielding, early-ripening grape is praised for its ability to produce crisp and aromatic wines with a lot... READ MORE

Dolcetto is a red grape that is mostly cultivated in Piedmont. Although its name translates to a sweet little one, the variety is used for the production of dry, medium-bodied red wines. Dolcetto based wines are usually deep ruby... READ MORE

Negroamaro is a red grape variety mostly found throughout Apulia, particularly in Salento, Lecce, Tarento, Brindisi, and Foggia. It is often used together with other regional grapes such as Malvasia Nera, Susumaniello, and Primitivo, alth... READ MORE

Verdicchio is an Italian grape variety that is mostly associated with Marche. It is a versatile grape used in varietals and blends, and it can produce light and refreshing wines as well as more complex examples. Verdicchio wines are usual... READ MORE

Vermentino is a white grape variety predominantly grown in several Mediterranean wine regions, especially in Northern Italy and Sardinia. It is particularly known for producing crisp, aromatic white wines. Vermentino wines are known for their vibr... READ MORE

Corvina is an Italian red grape variety that is mostly planted in Veneto. This thick-skinned red grape is best known as the backbone of many blends such as Valpolicella and Bardolino. Dried Corvina grapes are used for th... READ MORE

Lagrein is an ancient Italian red grape mainly cultivated in Trentino-Alto Adige in Northeast Italy. The grape has ancient origins, and though it was once common, it was later mainly replaced by Schiava (Vernatsch), which proved to be mor... READ MORE

Nero d’Avola is an indigenous Sicilian red grape, whose name, meaning the black of Avola, refers to its distinctive dark color. For most of the 20th century, Nero d'Avola was used as a blending grape, but in the 1990s winem... READ MORE

Also known as Limone di Massa Lubrense or Massese, named after a small community of villages settled at the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula, these fragrant lemons are derived from the local ecotype Ovale di Sorrento and ... READ MORE

Friulano is an Italian name for Sauvignonasse variety that originated in southwest France, where it was never widely cultivated. The grape is rarely seen outside Italy and is considered as one of the signature grapes in Friuli-Venezia Gi... READ MORE

Falanghina is an old Italian white grape variety that is mostly associated and cultivated in Campania. For a very long time, it was not known that the name was used for two distinct sub-varieties: Falanghina Beneventana and the b... READ MORE

Arneis is a native grape from Piedmont that gives the best results in Roero—where it is used in the production of the famed Roero Arneis DOCG. Its exact origin is not known, but it is assumed that it has been cultivated in the area ... READ MORE

Inzolia is an Italian grape variety mainly associated with Sicily, though small amounts are also found in Tuscany (Ansonica Bianca). The grape was best known for its use in Marsala wine, but it is now often blended with the local Catarrat... READ MORE

Montepulciano is an Italian grape variety that cultivated throughout the country, but it is mostly associated with central Italy, particularly with the regions Abruzzo and Marche. Montepulciano-based wines are typically medium-bodied, wit... READ MORE

Passerina is a white Italian grape variety that is nowadays primarily associated with Marche. Although it can be used in various styles, it is now mostly used in the production of dry white wines. Passerina is included in several regional... READ MORE

Garganega is one of the oldest and the most important grape varieties in Italy. It is planted in different regions, but its foreground is in Veneto, where it is used in the production of Gambellara DOC and the renowned Soave wines—b... READ MORE

Nerello Mascalese is a late-ripening native Sicilian grape variety that is mostly cultivated around Mount Etna. One of the few grapes that survived the phylloxera plague—due to the high altitudes where it is grown—Nerello Masc... READ MORE

Catarratto is an ancient and little-known Sicilian white grape. In the past, it was mainly used for unimpressive, bland wines, but some producers have shown that a better approach can result in excellent white wines with a fresh and miner... READ MORE

Pignolo is a local Friulian grape that produces tannic red wines. It is believed that the grape originated around the Abbey of Rosazzo, a monastery located in the Colli Orientali of Friuli. After phylloxera hit the region, Pignolo was con... READ MORE

Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine hailing from the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy region of Italy, particularly from areas around Modena, Reggio Emilia and Mantua. This wine is made from several varieties of the Lambrusco grape, each contributing dif... READ MORE

Aglianico is a native Italian grape variety. Although it is grown outside Italy, Aglianico thrives in southern Italian regions, predominantly on the volcanic soils of Campania and Basilicata. Aglianico-based wines may have slightly differ... READ MORE

Nero di Troia, also known as Uva di Troia, is an ancient Apulian grape primarily cultivated in northern Apulia. It most likely originates from the town of Troia in the province of Foggia. Although it was often overshadowed by the... READ MORE

Zibibbo is the local Sicilian name for Muscat of Alexandria grapes. This grape belongs to a large family of Moscato grapes, which are famous for their perfumed aromas and sweet flavors. Muscat of Alexandria is believed to be one of the ol... READ MORE

Cesanese is an ancient red Italian grape that is mainly cultivated in Lazio. The grape is finicky to grow since it ripens late, but with the right approach, it can result in excellent red wines. There are three known Cesanese clones, Cesa... READ MORE

Frappato is an Italian wine variety that is mostly associated with Sicily—where it is best known for its use in Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG. Although its ancestry has not been determined, Frappato is one of the oldest grape varieties... READ MORE

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is one of the oldest and most esteemed varieties of the Muscat grape family. Known for its small berries and tight clusters, this variety is highly prized for its aromatic qualities and versatility in winemaking... READ MORE

Amarena is a unique type of cherry originating from Bologna in Italy. It was developed by Gennaro Fabbri. The cherries have a dark, almost black color, while the texture of the flesh is tender and firm. The flavor is best described as sour, acidic... READ MORE

Commonly known as 'The blood orange of Sicily', Arancia Rossa di Sicilia is grown in the fertile lands spread out below the Mount Etna volcano. During ripening, due to a significant diurnal temperature variation in the area, the oranges p... READ MORE

Croatina is a red grape variety native to northern Italy. It is used for varietals and blends, and it is included in several regional appellations – most notable is the Oltrepò Pavese Bonarda DOC, which is 100% Croatina. The ... READ MORE

Roscetto or Rossetto is a white Italian grape that hails from Lazio. This rare Italian grape is used to produce dry white wines, but it is also suitable for late-harvest styles. It is used in varietal and blends, and though it is finicky ... READ MORE

Teroldego is a red-skinned grape variety that originates from northern Italy, and it is almost exclusively cultivated in Trentino-Alto Adige. The grape is used in varietals and blends, while the most popular appellation is the Trentino-ba... READ MORE

Marzemino is a native Italian red grape. It is an old variety with vague origins, but it is mainly cultivated and associated with northern Italy. Marzemino is used to produce varietal wines, but it is probably best known for its use in Co... READ MORE

Vernaccia is a white wine grape variety most famously associated with the town of San Gimignano in Tuscany, Italy. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of Italy's oldest and most esteemed wines, known for its distinctive character and high quality. T... READ MORE

Gaglioppo is a red Italian grape mainly cultivated in Calabria, where it is used in several DOCs—Cirò being the most popular. The grape produces well-structured, medium-bodied red wines with flavors of crushed red berries tha... READ MORE

Susumaniello is an Italian red grape synonymous with Apulia. It is a rare grape and one of many offspring of Garganega. Susumaniello is mainly cultivated in Brindisi, where it is usually used in blends, together with Malvasia Nera and Neg... READ MORE

Albana is a white wine grape variety predominantly grown in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, particularly around the town of Bertinoro. Known for producing Italy's first DOCG white wine, Albana is versatile and can be made into a range of style... READ MORE

Timorasso is a native grape from Piedmont that is nowadays mostly planted in Alessandria. The grape was on the verge of extinction, but now it makes some of the most exciting Italian wines. The wines produced from Timorasso are full-bodie... READ MORE